Krish Raval OBE, Chair of the Labour Indians has been nominated for a life peerage in the House of Lords.
The nomination celebrates Raval’s unwavering commitment to leadership development and his support for the British Indian diaspora. With affiliations to prestigious institutions like the University of Oxford and Dev Sanskriti University in India, Raval's work spans global boundaries. In 2018, he was honoured with an OBE for his remarkable contributions to leadership education and interfaith cohesion.
In an interview with Asian Voice, Raval discusses the nomination, plans for Labour Indians and more.
What does this nomination mean to you, and how do you see your potential role in the House of Lords representing diverse communities, especially the Indian diaspora?
I feel extremely privileged to be the first person of my background in this position since the time of Lord Parekh and Lord Desai. I am absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity, and it’s a testament to the Prime Minister’s foresight and commitment to inclusivity that this gap has been addressed. I was as surprised as anyone when the Prime Minister nominated me to become a peer. That said, I am honoured to continue a long legacy after such a significant hiatus.
I am determined to represent everyone, and, as we Indians always strive to do, serve all communities, ensuring their interests, including that of the British Indian community, are well-represented. However, I also want to ensure that I’m not a bottleneck but rather a bridge—facilitating the representation of our diaspora as well as other communities. While I represent everyone, my awareness of the Indian community means I have a responsibility to work with others to ensure its immense talent is not left behind.
How will Labour Indians address key issues for the diaspora in 2025, and what strategies are planned to boost representation of British Indians within the Labour Party?
The real answer to this is: wait and see. I’ll be a bit cryptic here, but I can say that Labour is very keen to engage with our community, as it does with others. Over the next months, we will unveil a series of ideas, as this is indeed a priority for Labour Indians.
Labour’s interaction with the community media, a representative of the diaspora, has been limited. How does the party plan to change this?
From my perspective—though I am not a member of the government—I’ve observed the Labour Party closely since I was 16. What I’ve noticed is that, for much of the last 14 years, there’s been little to no engagement with ethnic minority media. To be honest, it’s only in the last three or four years, since Keir Starmer took over, that any meaningful effort has been made in this regard. My hope is that, now that Labour has formed the government, we will address this issue more comprehensively. Personally, I am committed to pushing for this, as I recognise the importance of ethnic minority media.
But honestly, after 14 years in opposition, it does take time to regain footing and rebuild connections. That said, there are MPs actively interacting with ethnic minority media, demonstrating that there is a voice for these communities within the party. The key now is to amplify that voice and strengthen the connection to ensure that these communities feel heard and represented effectively.
Labour’s diaspora group for Indians has undergone several leadership changes in recent years. What were the key reasons behind these transitions and what measures are being taken to ensure stability of the group moving forward?
The way I see it, at different times, we witness various iterations of community and diaspora expression. I have immense respect for the outstanding individuals who, out of genuine care for their community, established different groups. With Labour Indians, we’ve built stability through a clear roadmap, which extends beyond being a voluntary initiative. What’s particularly encouraging is the growing number of young people getting involved. To your earlier question about my intentions, I want to emphasise that I aim to serve everyone.
We are part of the movement for better representation and advocacy in order to usher in a new era of diversity and representation at all levels of the Labour Party in order to create a better country and world.
What message would you like to share with the Indian diaspora about Labour’s vision for a united and inclusive Britain as India celebrates its 76th Republic Day?
Republic Day holds profound significance, symbolising sovereignty, self-determination, resilience, and courage in overcoming hardship. These values lie at the heart of the Indian diaspora's identity. As the largest diaspora in the world, the Indian community’s contributions span all areas—medicine, environmental science, philosophy, faith, technology, and beyond.
Our aim should be to ensure that the diaspora's contributions are recognised across the full spectrum of public policy, rather than being confined to just one or two areas. While I remain deeply mindful of the pivotal role the Indian Trade Union movement played in achieving swaraj, I am equally inspired to champion the ingenuity, enterprise, and professional pursuits of the diaspora. Emerging fields such as fintech, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence present significant opportunities where we can assist the government in shaping the future.
Ultimately, the goal should be to help pave the way for others, those more talented than myself, to rise and make meaningful contributions to society. This collective aspiration drives our efforts and underpins the legacy we aim to build.
